Drawer construction



, E. J. SOLDAN DRAWER CONSTRUCTION Jan. 7 1941'.

Filed Oct. 28, 1938 2 Shecs-Sheet l (N I 'EN T( 7 A Jan. 7, 1941. E. J. SOLDAN DRAWER CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

IN VENTO'R I .1 TTORAVE )5.

Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAWER CONSTRUCTION Mich.

Application October 28, 1938, Serial No. 237,386

2 Claims.

This invention relates to drawers and to cabinets or the like embodying one or more drawers, the principal object being the provision of a new and novel drawer construction as well as to an 5 assembly thereof forming a cabinet or the like.

Objects of the invention include the provision of a drawer unit including a casing open on one face and through which a drawer is movable for access thereto or for concealment therein; the

provision of a construction of the type described in which the drawer is arranged to lie in spaced relation to the casing when in closed position therein; the provision of a construction as above described in which the drawer is arranged interiorly of the casing in spaced relation to the walls thereof; the provision of a construction as above described in which the drawer is provided with a wall secured in spaced relation to the front wall thereof whereby when the drawer is fully projected into the casing said front wall will close the front end of the casing and thereby provide, in conjunction with the casing, a double seal for the contents of the drawer; the provision of a construction as above described including an 25 auxiliary drawer received within the main drawer and supported in operative relation thereto in a new and novel manner; the provision of a construction as above described including certain novel details of construction by means of which 30 the dust sealing characteristics of the assembly are improved; the provision of a construction as above described including certain novel details enhancing the strength and rigidity of the assembly; and the provision of'a construction as 35 above described that is simple in construction and economical to produce.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a plurality of drawer units together with means so constructed and arranged as to 40 correlate two or more units and to provide a cabinet construction; the provision of a cabinet including one or more drawer units and supporting means therefor so constructed and arranged as to permit the addition of other 45 drawer units thereto at will to form a multidrawer cabinet or the like; the provision of a cabinet or the like; the provision of a cabinet including two or more drawer units of the type above described together with means cooper- 50 ating therewith in a new and novel manner to combine them to a unitary structure; the provision of a cabinet construction including rigidly connected drawer units capable of being expanded at will tomeet increasing requirements for storage space; and the provision of a drawer unit construction so constructed and arranged as to permit assembly of two or more thereof into a single cabinet construction or into a plurality of cabinet constructions having substantially smooth and unbroken exterior surfaces, particu- 5 larly adapting a series of such cabinets to be arranged one against the other with their side walls in full contact over the entire area thereof.

The above being among the objects of the present invention the same consists in certain novel 10 features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in View.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a suitable embodiment of the present invention and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several different views,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet constructed in accordance with the present invention of a plurality of unitary drawer sections;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the drawer sections shown in the cabinet construction shown in Fig. 1, other than the top drawer section thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially broken, partially sectioned front elevational view of the upper portion of the cabinet shown in Fig. 1, the sectioned portions being taken as on the line 33 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a partially broken vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a partially broken horizontal sectional view taken as on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a partially broken, reduced, vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through a drawer section incorporating an auxiliary drawer, the view otherwise being similar to that in Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View 40 taken transversely of the construction shown in Fig. 6 as on the line 1-! thereof.

The present invention relates to drawers and to cabinets in which it may be desired to store goods or articles of any kind or description, and it will be understood that the dimensions of the drawer unit and of the drawers contained therein, that is, the width, height and length of the same may be varied as desired to accommodate it or them to any particular use within the scope of the invention. One use to which the present invention is particularly adaptable is that of storing original drawings, tracings, blue prints and the like in drafting rooms or manufacturing departments of factories or the like, and the particular embodiment of the invention shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings has been designed and, accordingly, is proportioned to meet such needs. Accordingly, for the purpose of simplicity in description, when reference is made in the following specification and claims to drawing or blue print cabinet, or drawers therefor, it will be understood that this is by way of explanation only and is not to be interpreted in a limiting sense, and the application of the invention to other specific uses will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The present invention has been designed to meet two major needs in connection with cabinets of the type described. The first of these is to meet the demand for a cabinet of the type described built up in sections and so constructed and arranged that initially only one or as many more sections as may be desired may be purchased to meet the then existing demand of a user, the section or sections thus purchased being capable of being set up and employed as a unitary cabinet if desired, additional drawer sections or units being individually available in the future whereby they may be combined with the sections first purchased to enlarge the capacity of the original cabinet to meet additional or growing demand for cabinet space.

The second need above referred to is in connection with a drawer construction that will i efiiciently and effectively guard the contents of the drawer against unreasonable contamination by dust without resort to an unduly expensive construction. Certain articles, for instance original drawings and tracings, may deteriorate relatively rapidly because of the accumulation of dust thereon and in many cases are impossible of replacement, or when capable of replacement only at a relatively great cost. It is, therefore, important in connection with articles of this type in particular that they be stored in such a manner as to guard against the excessive accumulation of dust thereon and yet be stored in such a manner as will permit ready and convenient access thereto.

In obtaining these ends the present invention provides a cabinet construction including one or more independent drawer sections or units two or more of which may be combined with one another to form a multi-drawer unit. Means are associated with such units serving to tie them together into a permanent rigid structure but such as to permit one or more drawer units to be added to the assembly from time to time as desired, such addition involving little or no skill and a relatively small expenditure of labor so that the owner of one or more sections may purchase an additional section or unit and himself incorporate it into a unit or assembly theretofore purchased.

Each drawer unit in itself includes a casing preferably formed of sheet metal substantially imperforate on all sides thereof except the. front which is open for reception of the drawer. Within the casing and spaced downwardly from the top wall thereof is a drawer cover permanently fixed thereto and arranged to slidably suspend a drawer therefrom. The drawer itself is of sufficiently smaller dimension than the dimensions of the casing so that it is spaced from the walls of the casing throughout its entire extent when in closed position, its open top being supported in substantially sealed relation with respect to its cover secured within the casing when the drawer is in closed position. The front wall of the drawer is provided with an additional wall rigidly fixed thereto in spaced relation forwardly thereof and of such size and construction as to cooperate with the open front of the casing to close it when the drawer is moved to closed position, and this wall is so constructed and arranged as to nest in sealing relationship with respect to the open edge of the casing to enhance the dust sealing effect thereof. Additionally, the casing of each unit is internally reinforced so that in placing one drawer unit upon another the weight of the upper units is transferred to the lower unit in such a manner as to eliminate possible distortion of the lower unit which otherwise might interfere with or detract from the ease with which the drawers might be slidably manipulated. Furthermore, the Various casings are so constructed and arranged as to receive within their outer confines but at the same time exteriorly of the drawers proper means for securing the various units rigidly together as well as to serve as supporting legs where desired.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be noted that in Fig. 1 a cabinet is illustrated including four vertically directed supporting legs I0 supporting a plurality of individual drawer units indicated generally at I2 and supporting in adjacent but spaced relation with respect to the floor a shelf I4. The legs' ID are rigidly secured to the drawer unit I2 and to the shelf I 4 so that all of these members cooperate to form a rigid unitary assemblage. As a matter of illustration only the cabinet in Fig. 1 is illustrated as including six of the drawer units l2 arranged in contacting or substantially contacting relation one below the other beginning at the upper end of the legs l0 and extending downwardly therefrom, and a seventh drawer section I2 spaced downwardly from the lower drawer unit of this group so as to provide a material space between its top and the bottom of the lowermost unit of such group, thus exposing the upper surface of this lower drawer unit for use as a shelf or the like. The particular embodiment shown is designed to incorporate a total of ten drawers in a completed cabinet, although it will be appreciated that the construction is such that it may be readily varied to include any desired number'of drawer sections in a completed cabinet.

It is to be understood that in the particular embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 an additional drawer unit may be interposed between the. lower drawer unit I2 and the shelf I4 and additionally a pair of drawer elements or units I2 may be interposed between the top of the lower drawer unit I2 shown and the bottom unit of the group of six drawer units shown at the top, thus providing an unbroken tier of ten drawers in the resulting cabinet. As will hereinafter be more fully described each of the drawer units I2 shown are removably secured withrespect to the legs H! so that except for the top unit l2 any of such units may be interchanged with any other unit I2 and may be located in any desired position over the height of the legs I0, and that any of the sections I2 may be. removed, and more additional sections added to unoccupied spaces between the legs I0, as suits the desires of the user.

Additionally, it is desired to point out initially a purchaser may have requirements for one of the drawer sections or units I2 only in which event should he desire it to be supported on the legs I0, he will ordinarily purchase the upper drawer unit [2 only, the legs l0 and the shelf l4 and then as his demands for increased storage space increases, he may purchase additional drawer units or sections l2 and secure them in desired relation on the legs l0 until the complete cabinet of ten units in the illustrated embodiment of the invention shown is obtained. The shelf I4 is desirable particularly when only the upper drawer unit 12 is initially purchased, or the upper unit l2 together with a relatively small number of additional units I2 are purchased, so as to tie the bottom ends of the legs l0 together and thus render the assemblage more rigid than would otherwise be possible. It will, of course, be appreciated that the shelf I4 may be dispensed with'for this purpose where two or more of the drawer units 12 are employed and one is positioned adjacent the top and one positioned adjacent the bottom of the legs In as in such case the lower unit will serve the same purpose as the shelf M in tying the bottom ends of the legs I 0 together.

All of the drawer units l2 are of identical construction except that preferably the top unit I2 has a completely unbroken upper surface through which the legs N] do not project, this not only enhancing the appearance of the resulting structure but also serving to more fully seal the contents against the entrance of dust or dirt. All of the rest of the units I2, as indicated in Fig. 2, are provided with apertures IS in both their upper and lower walls through which the legs It may project so as to enable the units !2 to be threaded one over the other upon the legs [8. Where it is desired to place two or more of the units l2 as an assembly upon another cabinet or other suitable support not requiring the use of individual legs such as the legs I0, tie members extending vertically between such units, of a section corresponding to the section of the legs l0 shown and of a length corresponding to the height of the number of sections thus assembled, may if desired be employed in place of the legs It to tie the various units. [2 into a unitary assemblage.

Each of the drawer units l2, as best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, comprises a wrapper or casing preferably formed from sheet metal into a generally rectangular structure having an open front and including a planular top wall iii, a planular bottom wall 20, planular side walls 22, and a planular rear wall 24. While the thickness of the sheet metal from which these vari-. ous walls of the casing are constructed may vary in accordance with the size of the casing and the particular use to which it is to be put, where the device is to be employed as a filing cabinet for drawings, blue prints and the like, and of a size to receive drawings of a maximum size approximately two feet by three feet, sheet metal on the order of of an inch has been found satisfactory for use.

In the broader aspects of the present invention it makes little difference what mode of fabrication is followed to produce the above described casings, it has been found satisfactory to form the bottom wall 20, side walls 22, and rear wall 23 of a single sheet of metal, the side walls and rear wall being formed as flaps on the original blank and bent up into their desired relation and suitably welded or otherwise secured at the corners to render the structure more rigid and to seal it against the entrance of dust or dirt. In such case it is preferable to inwardly flange the upper marginal edges of the sides and rear walls as at 26 thereby to provide a relatively "broad seating surface for the cover I8 which in such case comprises essentially a flat rectangular sheet of metal resting upon the flanges 26 and suitably secured and sealed thereto as by welding or the like. In order to eliminate the presence of the sharp or raw edges of the sheet metal parts at the front end of the cabinet, as well as to enhance the general appearance of the cabinet and for additional purposes, it is preferable that the front marginal edges of the top and bottom walls l8 and 20, respectively, and the sides 22 be reversely bent inwardly upon themselves as indicated at 28 in Figs. 4 and 5.

In order to reinforce the open front ends of each of the above described casings, a frame com--, posed of relatively rigid channel-sectioned mem bers 3B is fitted within the open end of each casing and suitably secured therein as by welding or the like. One side wall of the channel of the channel-sectioned frame members 30 is of greater length than the other side Wall thereof and these frame members are arranged in the open end of each casing with the channel opening forwardly and with the longer side wall abutting against the reversely turned portion 28 of the corresponding casing wall and with its outer edge preferably flush with the forward edge of such casing wall as clearly indicated in Figs. 4 and 5.

Rigidly secured as by welding or the like to the under-face of each top wall N3 of each of the casings are a plurality of inverted channel members 32 extending front to back and in parallel relation with respect to the sides 22. Each side wall of each of the channel members 32 at its open edge is bent laterally outwardly as at 34 to provide a pair of oppositely disposed horizontally extending flanges, it being understood that such flanges 35 of all of the channel members 32 in any casing are arranged in co -planar relationship. The channel members 32 extend from a point adjacent the corresponding frame 30 at the front of the cabinet preferably to a point immediately adjacent to the forward edge of the flange 26 at the upper edge of the rear wall 24. While any suitable number of channel members 32 maybe employed in connection with these casings depending upon the use to which the drawers are to be put, their size and the relative weight of the material to be stored therein, in the. particular size of drawer shown and assuming the drawersare,

to be employed for the purpose of storing blue prints, drawings, or-the like, it has been found that three in number are sufiicient, one positioned centrally between the side walls 22 and the remaining two being positioned adjacent the side walls 22 but inwardly spaced therefrom as, best indicated in Fig. 3. v

The channel members 32 are employed not only to reinforce the top wall I8 and thereby render the same more rigid but also for the purpose of supporting a drawer cover element 36 located within each casing. Each drawer cover element 36 may be formed from a flat sheet of metal as indicated, which may be of a thickness. on the same order as the thickness of the walls i8, 20, 22 and 24 and may extend laterally from the lateral outer margin of one laterally outermost channel member 32 to the corresponding outer margin of the opposite laterally outermost channel member 32, and may extend longitudinally from the frame 30 at the open end of the casing to the forward edge of the flange 26 on the rear wall 24 as indicated. Preferably the forward marginal edge ofeach cover 36 is flanged upwardly as indicated at 38 in Fig, 4 so as to lie flat against the rear face of the frame 36 between such rear face of the frame 36 and the forward ends of the channels 32 as best indicated in Fig. 4, thus not only enhancing the appearance of the structure at this point but also serving to additionally seal the contents of the drawer from contamination by dust. The marginal side edges of the cover element 36 are preferably, but not necessarily reversely turned upon themselves and thenv bent upwardly as at 40 best indicated in Fig. 3 so as to lie in substantial contact with the outer edge of the cooperating flange 36 on the adjacent channel member 32. It is also preferable that this reversely turned marginal portion be of suflicient dimension so as to project vertically above the plane at the top surface of the corresponding flange 34 as illustrated in Fig. 3 for a purpose which will hereinafter be more fully described. While the cover element 36 may be secured to the channel member 32 in any suitable manner, this is preferably accomplished by a welding operation so as to leave the under-surface of the cover element 36 devoid of any material projections or protuberances the reason for which will be presently apparent.

Within each of the casings thus described a drawer indicated generally at 42 is slidably received. Each drawer is of a height less than the distance between (the cover element 36 and the bottom wall 20 of the casing and is adapted to be positioned with its upper edge in closely adjacent relationship with respect to the cover element 36 so that its bottom. wall is spaced from the bottom wall 20 of the casing by a distance which may correspond for instance with the spacing of the cover element 36 from the top wall l8. Each drawer 42 is of a width less than the width of the casing and preferably, as indicated, is of slightly less width than the cover element 36, and is centrally positioned in the casing so that its side Walls are laterally spaced from the side walls 22 of the casing. The length of each drawer 42 is less than the length of the corresponding casing and when fully received within the corresponding casing is preferably positioned so that its rear wall is forwardly spaced from the rear wall 24 of the casing and its front wall is located rearwardly of the open end of the casing.

Although the drawers 42 may be for-med in any suitable manner and from any suitable material they are preferably formed from sheet metal as indicated and preferably from a single sheet to provide a bottom wall 44, side walls 46, a rear wall 48 and a front wall 56. In the particular construction all these walls are origin-ally formed as a single sheet of metal, the side walls 46 and rear and front Walls 48 and 56, respectively, being formed as flaps in the original blank and bent upwardly into perpendicular relation-ship with respect to the bottom wall 44, the rear wall 48 and the front wall 50 being provided with tabs 52 at their lateral outer edges which are then bent forwardly and rearward-1y respectively into overlapping relationship with respect to the rear and forward edges of the side walls 4-6 and then suitably secured thereto as by welding or the like and as indicated best in Fig. 4. The upper marginal edge portions of the side walls 46 and rear and front walls 46 and 56, respectively, are preferably outwardly reversely bent as indicated at 52 not only to eliminate the exposed raw edges of the stock but also to reinforce the free edges of these walls and to render them less flexible.

The drawers 42 are further reinforced and rigidifled as well as slidably suspended from the cover element 36 by means of channel members 54 secured to the outer Efiace of the side walls 46 thereof. The channel members 54 are arranged with their channels opening laterally inwardly of each drawer and the lower side wall of each channel 54 is provided with a downwardly projecting flange 56 which lies in contact with the outer face of each outer wall 46 and is rigidly secured thereto by welding or other suitable means. The upper inwardly projecting leg of each channel member 54 is arranged in vertically spaced relation with respect to the upper edges of the corresponding drawer 52 and is received over the corresponding upwardly projecting marginal edge portion 40 at the corresponding edge of the cover element 32 and slidably rests thereon, thereby to support the drawer 42 from such upturned edges 40 with the upper edge of the drawer in closely spaced relation with respect to the lower edge of the cover element 36. It will be appreciated that by eliminating the upturned edges 46 of the cover member 36 or reducing their height so that they do not project upwardly beyond the upper face of the corresponding flange 34 it would be possible and may be desirable in some cases to support the drawers 42 through the channel members 54 by direct contact with the latter with the cooperating flange 34 of the corresponding channel member 32, and such is within the province of the present invention. It has been found desirable, however, to extend the upwardly turned portions 40 of the cover element 36 above the plane of the cooperating flange 34 of the corresponding channel 32 in order to lessen the area of contact between the channels 54 land the structure which slidably supports it in order to render the drawer more freely slidable. It may also be noted that the depth of the channel members 54 is preferably such that the upturned edges 40 of the cover element -36'substantially abut against the bottom wall of the channel thereby to guide the drawer 42 laterally of the casing during its sliding movement. It may also be noted that channel members 54 preferably extend from a point adjacent the rear of each of the drawers 42 to a point adjacent the front end thereof it being particularly desirable to extend these channel members as far forward as possible even to a point beyond the forward wall 56 of the corresponding drawer as indicated in the drawing in which case it will be found necessary, where the drawers 42 are constructed in the manner previously described, to cut away the forward end of the flanges 56 as indicated at 60 in Fig. 4 in order to clear the adjacent tab 52.

The forward wall 50 of each of the drawers 42 has rigidly secured to its forward face as by welding or other suitable means a transversely extending forwardly opening channel member 62 the forward marginal edge portions of which are vertically bent away from each other in coplanar relationship to form attaching flanges 64 as best indicated in Fig. 4, and arranged in forwardly spaced relation with respect to the forward wall 56 of the corresponding drawer 42. The flanges 64 of each channel member 62 receive on their forward face and support a vertically directed wall member 66 rigidly secured thereto as by welding or the like, the wall member 66 forming the forward wall of the casing comprising the walls I8, 20, 22 and 24 when the drawer is in closed position. The plate member 65 is preferably of relatively heavier material than the walls of the casing and of the drawer and its marginal edge portions around its entire periphery are preferablyrearward ly bent or turned as at 68. Theplate member 66 is of such dimensions that the flanges 68 thereof not only serves to reinforce or rigid'ify the plate member 66 but also to be received in nesting relationship within the channel of the corresponding frame members 30 thereby to provide a maize-like dust seal between the plate member 66 and the frame members 30. Suitable handles or grips 10 secured to the plate member 66 serve to permit each drawer 42 and its corresponding casing front wall or plate 66 to be slid inwardly or outwardly of its corresponding casing.

To summarize the construction thus far described it will be apparent that the present invention provides an individual drawer unit which comprises a casing open only at the front thereof, a drawer slidable inwardly and outwardly of the casing and when completely received within the casing completely spaced over all of its surfaces from the inner walls of the casing, that the casing is provided with an independent cover for the drawer fixedly secured within the casing in spaced relation to the top wall thereof and from which the drawer is slidably suspended, and that each drawer is provided with a spaced front plate member cooperating with the forward edge of the corresponding casing to serve as an independent closure for the forward wall of the casing. In other words the construction provides, in effect, a completely sealed drawer within a sealed drawer thus providing a double seal for the contents of each drawer against the infiltration of dust and dirt from the air exteriorly of the casing. It will also be apparent that the construction 'of both the casing and the drawer itself is such as to impart maximum strength with minimum weight thus to provide a structure of ample strength and rigidity for the purpose required.

The legs I or equivalent members employed to tie the Various units l2 together. when not employed as legs in the sense of supporting the entire assembly from a floor or the like, in extending from one unit l2 to another unit 12 are completely housed within the casings of the corresponding units. In order to strengthen the casings at the points therein through which the legs Ill project as well as to provide sockets for the legs l3 in such a manner as to aid in rigidifying the assembly of a plurality of units l2, the casings are each internally provided at the point of passage of each of the legs l0 therethrough with a vertically. extending laterally inwardly opening channel member M. therein, each channel member arranged with its bottom wall in contact with the interior surface of the corresponding side wall 22 of the casing and rigidly secured thereto as by welding or the like. The channel members T4 are of a height equal to the distance between the top wall l8 and the bottom wall 20 of the corresponding casing and each is of a width so as to relatively closely receive the cooperating leg l0 therein against the bottom wall thereof as best indicated in Fig. 5. It has been previously mentioned that the top wall I 8 of all of the units l2 except the extreme top one thereof, and the bottom walls 20 of all of the units [2 are apertured in line with the channels 14 thereof for the passage of the legs l0 therethrough. Each drawer unit I2 is secured to the legs H] by one or more screws 16 which project through the side walls 22 of the casing and through the corresponding channel member 12 and are threaded into the legs H], the screws 16 being of a type and so arranged that their outer surfaces extend in substantially flush relationship with the outer surface of the corresponding side walls 22 of the casing. The legs Ill are preferably initially provided with a sufficient number of properly located threaded openings for receiving the screws 76 so that the various drawer units l2 may be assembled. in predetermined relationship upon the legs l0 and so that when two or more drawer units I2 are positioned upon the legs I!) in adjacent relationship their opposed top and bottom surfaces will lie in substantially contacting relation with respect to each other.

By providing the channels 14 in the manner described and by having them relatively closely receive the legs I0 it will be observed that the relationship of these parts tends to resist any tendency towards warping or cocking of a plurality of superposed sections 12 because of forwardly or rearwardly directed forces applied to the assemblage, such for instance as may be experienced in pulling a drawer open or slamming a drawer shut. Additionally the channel members 14 in being relatively closely received between the upper and lower walls of each casing of each drawer unit l2, tend to transmit the weight of one drawer unit l2 thereabove to another unit 12 therebelow independently of the walls of such casing when the legs I0 are not employed, thereby relieving the walls of such casing from undue stresses set. up by carrying a plurality of heavy loaded sections thereabove as has occurred in prior art structures and eliminating any tendency of the weight of upper sections from distorting lower sections and thereby rendering movement of the drawers impossible, or at least more difficult.

It may be desirable under some circumstances to provide means in a drawer of a predetermined size such as those above described for instance, for more conveniently storing articles of a size materially smaller than the maximum size which the drawer is designed to handle. While for this purpose the interiors of the drawers 42 may be provided with suitable partitions in accordance with conventional practice, this would eliminate the possibility of employing one drawer for storing a plurality of, different sized drawings including those of maximum size. Accordingly, in order to overcome this objection of conventional constructions resort may be had to the construction illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7. The construction illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 is'identical to that previously described except for slight modifications and the addition of a smaller drawer and, accordingly, for the purpose of ease in description equivalent parts are indicated by the same numerals as referred to above.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 it will be noted that the drawer 42 shown therein is 'provided with a smaller drawer indicated generally at 80 positioned in the upper part thereof. The drawer 80 may be of any suitable depth less than the depth of the drawer 42 but for'the purpose of illustration it is shown as being of substantially half the depth of the drawer 42 and positioned therein with its upper edge in substantially flush relation with respect to the upper edge of the drawer 42. The drawer 80 may be of the same general construction as the drawer 42 or of any other suitable construction. It is of substantially the same width as the drawer 42 but suificiently smaller as to enable it to be slidably received between the side walls of the drawer 42. The drawer 8!] may be of substantially the same depth fore and aft as the drawer 42 or of a less depth if desired. The drawer 80 is supported within the drawer 42 by means of a pair of angle members 82 one of which is secured to the inner face of each of the side walls 46 of the drawer 42 with one flange thereof projecting inwardly of the drawer 42 so as to receive the outer marginal edges of the bottom wall of the drawer 80 and thereby slidably support the same within the drawer 42. The rear wall 48 of the drawer 42 is cut away over the width and height of the drawer 80 so that the drawer 80 may slide rearwardly out through the rear end of the drawer 42, this being for the purpose of permitting the contents of the drawer 42 below the drawer 82 being made readily available by opening the drawer 42 and sliding the drawer 80 rearwardly to expose such contents. The interior of the drawer 80 may, of course, be provided with conventional partitions dividing the interior thereof into such smaller subdivisions as may be desired.

In order to insure the rear wall of the drawer 80 lining up with the rear wall of its cooperating drawer 42 when the drawer 42 is moved to closed position in its casing, and thereby efiect a closing of the opening in the rear wall 48 of the drawer 42 through which the drawer 80 is slidable and sealing it against the entrance of dirt and dust and the like, a bracket member 84 is interposed between the rear wall 24 of the cooperating casing and the rear wall of the drawer 80 to act as a spacer or a means for limiting the rearward movement of the drawer 80. While the bracket member 84 may be secured to either rear wall 24 of the casing or the rear wall of the drawer 80, it is illustrated as a matter of convenience as being secured to the rear wall 24 of the casing.

With the construction illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7 it will be apparent that when the drawer assembly is in closed position and it is wished to gain access to the contents of the drawer 80, the entire drawer assembly is pulled outwardly, the drawer Bil moving outwardly equally with the drawer 42 and thus exposing the contents of the drawer 89 when the drawer 42 is in extended position. On the other hand if it is desired to obtain access to the contents of the drawer 42 below the drawer 80, when the drawer 42 is in extended position the drawer 80 is merely slid backwardly upon its supports 82, thereby exposing the contents of the drawer 42 positioned therebelow. When it is desired to close the drawer from such a position the assembly is simply shoved rearwardly into the casing, the rear end of the drawer 80 first contacting the bracket 84 so as to limit further rearward movement thereof and during continued rearward movement of the drawer 42 the drawer 80 will have a relatively sliding movement forwardly therein until the rear walls of both the drawers 42 and 80 become aligned as illustrated in Fig. 6.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a drawer construction, in combination, a sheet metal casing open at one side thereof, a planular drawer cover within said casing arranged in spaced relation to the upper wall thereof and provided with upwardly directed marginal edge portions along the lateral side margins thereof, a drawer receivable in said casing, a member providing a channel therein secured to each side of said drawer and embracing and being supported upon the upturned marginal edge portion of said cover member at the corresponding side of said casing whereby to slidably support said drawer within said casing with the walls of said drawer in spaced relation with respect to the walls of said casing, and a closure member for said casing fixed to said drawer and bodily movable therewith to close the open side of said casing when said drawer is in fully received position by said casing.

2. In a drawer construction, in combination, a sheet metal casing open at the front thereof, reinforcing means secured to the top wall of said casing interiorly thereof including a pair of members extending perpendicularly with respect to said open front and in adjacent but inwardly spaced relation with respect to the opposite side Walls of the casing and each including an outwardly directed flange at the bottom thereof downwardly spaced from said top wall, a sheet metal plate in contact with the bottom faces of said flanges and secured thereto with its side edges in approximate alignment with the outer edges of said flanges, a drawer receivable in said casing through the open front thereof, and a reinforcing member extending along and secured to the upper margin of each side edge of said drawer and including an inwardly turned channel receiving the corresponding flange therein for supporting said drawer from the top wall of said casing through said pair of reinforcing members and in spaced relation with respect to the exterior walls of said casing for slidable movement inwardly and outwardly of said casing and for effecting a closure of said drawer by said plate when said drawer is in fully enclosed position within said casing.

EDWARD J. SOLDAN. 

